Dietary supplements in neurological diseases and brain aging
Authors
ZAKIRA NAUREEN
MAGI Euregio, Bolzano, Italy
KRISTJANA DHULI
MAGI’S LAB, Rovereto, Italy
MARIA MEDORI
MAGI’S LAB, Rovereto, Italy
PAOLA CARUSO
Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Cattinara University Hospital ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
PAOLO MANGANOTTI
Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Cattinara University Hospital ASUGI, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
PIETRO CHIURAZZI
Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
Summary
A healthy diet shapes a healthy mind. Diet quality has a strong association with brain health. Diet influences the onset and consequences of neurological diseases, and dietary factors may influence mental health at individual and population level. The link between unhealthy diet, impaired cognitive function and neurodegenerative diseases indicates that adopting a healthy diet would ultimately afford prevention and management of neurological diseases and brain aging. Neurodegenerative diseases are of multifactorial origin and result in progressive loss of neuronal function in the brain, leading to cognitive impairment and motoneuron disorders. The so-called Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) with its healthy ingredients rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune, neuroprotective, antidepressant, antistress and senolytic activity plays an essential role in the prevention and management of neurological diseases and inhibits cognitive decline in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. The MedDiet also modulates the gut-brain axis by promoting a diversity of gut microbiota. In view of the importance of diet in neurological diseases management, this review focuses on the dietary components, natural compounds and medicinal plants that have proven beneficial in neurological diseases and for brain health. Among them, polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and several ayurvedic herbs have promising beneficial effects.
Keywords: Neurological diseases, Neurodegenerative diseases, Dietary supplements, Mediterranean diet, Ayurvedic herbs
Author Biographies
PIETRO CHIURAZZI, Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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